Fly Fishing the Greater Yellowstone Backcountry

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most crowded parks in the country, and for good reason: breathtaking scenery, amazing wildlife, and for anglers, great fishing. Yet, even a short hike from the road or trailhead into the backcountry of the park and the surrounding area can put anglers into even better fishing, often in solitude. This guidebook focuses on backcountry fishing opportunities in Yellowstone Park and surrounding areas in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho (Greater Yellowstone Area). In addition to full color photographs of the destinations, the author includes essential information for each stream or lake, including maps and written directions, flies, gear, and timing. Waters Covered Yellowstone Park Fall River Basin Beula Lake Boundary Creek Cascade Creek Hering Lake Mountain Ash Creek Robinson Creek Lewis River Drainage Moose Creek Polecat Creek Gallatin River Drainage Madison River Drainage “Beaver Meadows” of the Madison River Duck Creek Gneiss Creek Yellowstone River Drainage Blacktail Ponds Blacktail Deer Creek Cascade Lake Grizzly Lake McBride Lake Riddle Lake Tower Creek West of Yellowstone Park (Montana) “Waters to the West” Centennial Valley Red Rock Creek Odell Creek Elk Lake Elk Spring Creek Hidden Lake Graben Lakes Cliff Lake Wade Lake Madison River Drainage Between Highway 191 and Hebgen Lake Quake Lake Smith Lake South Fork Madison River West Fork Madison River Ruby River Upper River F. North of Yellowstone Park Gallatin River Taylor Fork Yellowstone River Drainage G. East of Yellowstone Park North Fork Shoshone River Drainage Clark’s Fork Drainage Sunlight Creek H. South of Yellowstone (Idaho and Wyoming) “Waters to the South” Snake River Drainage Grand Teton Park Waters Fish Creek Flat Creek Pacific Creek Upper Gros Ventre River Hoback River Drainage Willow Creek (Wyoming) Granite Creek Grey’s River Drainage Salt River Drainage Beaver Ponds Idaho Tributaries Swift Creek Willow Creek (Idaho) Drainage Beaver Ponds Henry’s Fork Drainage Teton River and Bitch Creek Fall River Blackfoot River Fish Lake Harriman Fish Pond Henry’s Lake Outlet Horseshoe Lake Warm River and Robinson Creek Wind River Drainage Brooks Lake Upper Wind River Warm Springs Creek

Bruce Staples, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, has fly-fished the Greater Yellowstone area for thirty-five years. His articles have appeared in Fly Tyer, American Angler, Fly Fishing the West, Yellowstone-Teton Country, and Fly Fisher magazines. He is the author of Flies for Greater Yellowstone Area (Stackpole), Snake River Country Flies and Waters, The Yellowstone Park River Journal, and Trout Country Flies. Bruce is a member of the Upper Snake River Fly Fishers of Rexburg, Idaho, and the Snake River Cutthroats of Idaho Falls. He is active in the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) and received the Western Rocky Mountain Council, FFF, Fly Tier of the Year award in 1990, and the Charlie Brooks Memorial Life Membership in 1998. In 2001 he received the FFF's Buz Buszek Memorial Award for fly-tying excellence. He is a member of the Whiting Farms and Daiichi Pro staffs.